Amy Camacho

Organ recipient

Age 41 – Sparks, NV

Honored by Donor Network West

Amy Camacho’s positive and boundless energy is felt everywhere she goes. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10, she was still able to grow up with an active lifestyle and attend college to become an educator. Since 2001, she has made a difference in her students’ lives as an elementary school teacher.

In her mid-thirties, Amy’s doctor notified her that her disease had affected her kidneys and that she needed a transplant to survive. By then, she lacked the energy to stand in front of her class or do some of her favorite activities. In 2016, after nearly five years on the national transplant waitlist, Amy received a kidney and pancreas transplant. She is thrilled to teach all day and still have the energy to go to the gym. Her transplant also inspired her to become a Donate Life Ambassador with Donor Network West to share her story of donation.

Amy’s Story

Amy Camacho’s positive and boundless energy is felt everywhere she goes. Though the Sparks, Nevada resident was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10, she was still able to lead an active lifestyle and attend college to fulfill her dream of becoming an educator. For sixteen years now she has made a difference in her students’ lives as an elementary school teacher.

In her mid-thirties, Amy’s doctor notified her that her disease had affected her kidneys to the point where she needed a transplant to survive. By then, she lacked the energy to stand in front of her class and do some of her favorite activities like going to the beach and travel. Not only was Amy hoping for the Gift of Life, she also prayed for the Gift of Time; there was still so much to do, so much to live for.

In 2016, after nearly five years on the national transplant waitlist, Amy received a kidney and pancreas transplant at age 39 and is thrilled to teach all day and still have the energy to go to the gym. Her transplant also inspired her to become an advocate for organ and tissue donation as a Donate Life Ambassador with Donor Network West.

“My life has changed incredibly. I am forever thankful to my donor family and hope to meet them some day to express my sincere gratitude,” says Amy.

In early 2017, Amy jumped through many hoops to make her way to the Nevada Legislature to testify on why offering organ and tissue donation education in public schools should be required, taking her love of education full circle from the classroom to the Senate. Thanks in large part to her testimony, high school students in Nevada will learn more about donation before they graduate. Her students were cheering for her along the way.

Amy’s gifts of Life and Time have allowed her to continue to be an inspiration to her students, not only by teaching them about English, math, and history, but by being living proof of the healing power of organ and tissue donation.